Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks' population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 110,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Sevenoaks increased by 5.1%, from just over 109,000 to 115,000.

The addition of just under 5,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sevenoaks was home to, on average, 2.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Sevenoaks

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Sevenoaks increased by two years, from 41 to 43 years.

This growing rural area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 13% of people in Sevenoaks are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Sevenoaks by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Sevenoaks

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Sevenoaks, but at a slower rate than across the South East.

In Sevenoaks, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 27% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 32%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Sevenoaks fell from 58% to 55%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 9.3% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Sevenoaks

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 25% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 25% in 2001

The number of people in Sevenoaks that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 16,000 in 2001 to about 29,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 25% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Sevenoaks that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 84,000 in 2001 to just over 75,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 65%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 8,000 to about 8,700 (from 7.3% to 7.6%).

About 600 people (0.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 380 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population without a religion in Sevenoaks increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Sevenoaks by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Sevenoaks

The percentage of Sevenoaks residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.7% to 7.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage of Sevenoaks residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.8% in 2001 to 6.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Sevenoaks

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 96% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 96% in 2001

The number of people in Sevenoaks from the White ethnic groups remained close to just over 110,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Sevenoaks from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 910 in 2001 to about 2,100 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 1.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 850 to about 1,700 (from 0.8% to 1.5%).

About 850 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 260 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Sevenoaks decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Sevenoaks by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Sevenoaks, but at a slower rate than in Dartford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Sevenoaks).

In Sevenoaks, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Dartford increased from 8.0% to 16%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Sevenoaks fell from 14% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76% to 73%.

Private renting in Sevenoaks increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sevenoaks, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sevenoaks decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sevenoaks, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Sevenoaks, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.6% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had only one person, compared with 26% in 2001. The percentage of households in Sevenoaks which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 44% to 40%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employees working less than 16 weekly hours increased from 7.5% to 8.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census remained close to 3.6%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 6.9% in 2001 to 7.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.4% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.5% to 2.0% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 1.7% in 2001 to 2.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Sevenoaks remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Sevenoaks by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that were employed remained close to 53% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 1.9% in 2001. While the percentage of Sevenoaks residents that were self-employed increased from 12% to 14%.

The proportion of employed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 55% in 2001 to 54% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 53% to 52%.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Sevenoaks with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 11% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 30%, while the percentage of households in Sevenoaks without children remained close to 59%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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